There are many people and groups that I like. My political opinions and what I think are best for the U.S. don't always reflect who or what I like.

I don't have anything against Puerto Ricans at all. I've heard that the PR is beautiful, but that San Jose (the capital) kind of takes away from it b/c of the violence and crime. What's wrong with PR becoming its own country?

Financially, yes. But they would also be able to stop the U.S. military from using PR land for bombing practice. (I don't know if it was a smaller island of the coast of the PR or part of the actual PR coastline).

It appears that Puerto Ricans (obviously) have tons of PR pride and see themselves as Puerto Ricans first, and Americans second. The only real reason for remaining part of the U.S. is for financial reasons.

The US would also lose out if PR went independent. Puerto Rico is very attractive for big companies (pharmaceuticals, beverage companies like Pepsi, etc) because of the much lower tax rates coupled with the natural resources of the island plus (and perhaps most importantly) the protection of US Federal Law. Independence would threaten those perks.

Cougar, you're right to point out that there is a very proud tradition of puerto rican nationalism on the island that is separate from the US, but that would be no different than the kind of pride Texans feel (except that Texans can't compete separately from the US in the Olympics and other world competitions).

It would be very foolish for Puerto Rico to go independent. I think the push behind statehood comes from the desire on behalf of the US to cement the ties it has w/ the island, as well as to ensure continued US gov't support for the island.

Puerto Rico was taken originally taken on by the U.S. to qualify Puerto Ricans as citizens only so that they would be able to fight for the U.S. in war. So abandoning P.R. now would be harsh and then it would most likely be taken over by Cuba and pose a stronger threat to the U.S.

Puerto Rico was taken originally taken on by the U.S. to qualify Puerto Ricans as citizens only so that they would be able to fight for the U.S. in war. So abandoning P.R. now would be harsh and then it would most likely be taken over by Cuba and pose a stronger threat to the U.S.